ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY LEADERS FORM COMMISSION ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ADVANCING EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE

ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY LEADERS UNANIMOUSLY FORM AND FUND COMMISSION FOR ELIMINATING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ADVANCING EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE

Anita Hill named Commission Chair

LOS ANGELES – December 15, 2017 – Following widespread revelations of pervasive sexual harassment and assault in the media and entertainment industries, executives, independent experts and advisors have come together in a unanimous effort to tackle the broad culture of abuse and power disparity by forming and funding the Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace, “the Commission.”

The Commission will lead the entertainment industry toward alignment in achieving safer, fairer, more equitable and accountable workplaces—particularly for women and marginalized people.

During the meeting, which was convened by Kathleen Kennedy, Maria Eitel, Nina Shaw and Freada Kapor Klein, with the support of a cross section of women in the entertainment industry, the industry’s top executives[1] convened and agreed to form and fund the Commission. Leaders emphasized that safe and inclusive work environments result in stronger and more successful businesses.

“The Commission will not seek just one solution, but a comprehensive strategy to address the complex and inter-related causes of the problems of parity and power,” said Ms. Kennedy. “The fact that so many industry leaders—across film, television, music, digital, unions, agencies, ATA, AMPAS, television academy and guilds—came together, in one room, to explore solutions speaks to a new era.”

The Commission will be led by professor and attorney Anita Hill, who showed indomitable courage in 1991 when she stepped forward to share her story of sexual harassment during the Senate confirmation process for US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Since then, in addition to teaching law and policy at Brandeis University, Ms. Hill has engaged the public in discussions on the legal and cultural developments around harassment as well as gender and racial equality. She has chaired the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the National Women’s Law Center and the Boston Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.

“I’m proud to be leading this newly-formed Commission on a long overdue journey to adopt best practices and to create institutional change that fosters a culture of respect and human dignity throughout the industry. We will be focusing on issues ranging from power disparity, equity and fairness, safety, sexual harassment guidelines, education and training, reporting and enforcement, ongoing research, and data collection,” said Ms. Hill. “It is time to end the culture of silence. I’ve been at this work for 26 years. This moment presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to make real change.”

The Commission will reconvene immediately after the first of the year to begin its urgent work defining its mission, scope, and priorities.

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ABOUT THE COMMISSION

The Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Inclusion is committed to a comprehensive approach to replacing abuse of power, mistreatment and silence with accountability, respect and opportunity.